Trump Gets NIGHTMARE NEWS from International Courts?!?!
YouTube · JW8vir4quKE
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The post-Nuremberg international legal order aims to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
- ❖The International Criminal Court (ICC) and universal jurisdiction are key tools for holding tyrants accountable.
- ❖Trump's attack on Iran is considered a 'crime of aggression' as it lacked self-defense justification or UN Security Council authorization.
- ❖Strikes on civilian targets like schools and hospitals in Iran, especially with 'reckless disregard' for civilian harm, could be war crimes.
- ❖Statements like 'no quarter, no mercy' or targeting civilian infrastructure are explicit war crimes.
- ❖Threats of 'a whole civilization will die tonight' or 'one big glow' from Iran could constitute incitement to genocide.
- ❖Sanctioning ICC judges and prosecutors for their investigations is international obstruction of justice, a crime prosecutable by the ICC.
- ❖Individuals involved in such crimes, even former heads of state, may face restricted international travel due to fear of arrest under universal jurisdiction.
Insights
1Trump's Attack on Iran Constitutes a 'Crime of Aggression'
The foundational principle of the post-WWII legal order, enshrined in the UN Charter, prohibits the non-use of force. The guest argues that Trump's invasion of Iran, without self-defense justification or UN Security Council authorization, constitutes the 'supreme international crime' of aggression, as defined by Nuremberg principles and the International Criminal Court.
The foundational principle of the post-war legal order is the non-use of force as set forth in Article 2 Section 4 of the United Nations charter. When Donald Trump invaded Iran, he committed the crime of aggression. You are allowed to attack another country in self-defense against an armed attack or an imminent armed attack or pursuant to a Security Council authorization. Neither of those happen. So in the first instance we have the crime of aggression and Donald Trump has presumptively committed that crime.
2Targeting Civilian Infrastructure and Issuing 'No Quarter' Orders are War Crimes
International law mandates distinguishing between military and civilian objectives. Deliberately attacking civilian infrastructure like power plants (which could lead to hospital failures) or issuing orders like 'no quarter, no mercy' (denying surrender) are clear violations of the laws of war and constitute war crimes. The guest notes that an order to give no quarter is, in itself, a war crime.
If we were to target bridges and civilian infrastructure, you know, like power plants that would, you know, take hospitals off of the power grid and and you know, infants would die in the NICU and people on ventilators would would die. Attacking that kind of civilian infrastructure, war crime. Absolutely. An order to give no quarter is a war crime.
3Threats of Annihilation Against Iran Could Implicate Genocide Convention
Statements made by President Trump, such as 'a whole civilization will die tonight' or 'you're just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran,' are not merely aggressive but could be interpreted as threats of genocide. The Genocide Convention prohibits not only acts of genocide but also threats and incitement to commit genocide, suggesting a broader intent beyond military objectives.
A whole civilization will die tonight was one quote. Well, that's that's that even implicates the genocide convention. The genocide convention prohibits even you know threats of genocide. You're just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran. I mean that's that's grotes genocide.
4Sanctioning ICC Judges Constitutes International Obstruction of Justice
The US administration's sanctioning of International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors and judges for investigating alleged crimes in Afghanistan and issuing arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders is a direct act of retaliation. The ICC statute criminalizes such retaliation against judges for carrying out their duties, making it a prosecutable offense under the ICC's jurisdiction, even if the US is not a party to the Rome Statute.
The sanctioning of judges of the international criminal court. The US has sanctioned the three top prosecutors at the International Criminal Court and eight of the judges. An executive order authorized sanctions and judges have been you know there are cases in which a judge participates in a ruling upholding the investigation and a week later the United States sanctions those judges. That is instruction of justice. The ICC statute criminalizes the retaliation against judges for having carried out their duties. In obstruction cases it doesn't [matter if the US is not a party]. So today a prosecutor of the ICC could start a case against Donald Trump and Marco Rubio for having for obstruction of justice.
Key Concepts
Crime of Aggression
The 'supreme international crime' defined at Nuremberg, referring to the unprovoked use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another state, without justification like self-defense or UN Security Council authorization.
Universal Jurisdiction
A principle in international law allowing national courts to prosecute individuals for certain grave international crimes (like war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, torture) regardless of where the crime was committed or the nationality of the perpetrator or victim, especially when domestic courts are unwilling or unable to act.
Laws of War (International Humanitarian Law)
A set of international rules that seek to limit the effects of armed conflict for humanitarian reasons. Key principles include distinction (between combatants and civilians/military and civilian objects) and proportionality (military advantage must outweigh anticipated civilian harm).
Lessons
- Understand that international law provides mechanisms for accountability for grave crimes, even for heads of state, through universal jurisdiction and international courts.
- Recognize that specific actions and rhetoric by national leaders, such as initiating wars without justification, targeting civilians, or threatening mass destruction, can be classified as international crimes like aggression, war crimes, or genocide.
- Be aware that obstructing international justice, such as sanctioning judges or prosecutors of international courts, can itself be a prosecutable international crime, potentially exposing individuals to legal action regardless of their country's non-participation in certain treaties.
Notable Moments
The arrest of Augusto Pinochet in London in 1998 on a Spanish warrant, despite his former head-of-state status, marked a 'champagne moment' for the human rights movement.
This event demonstrated the practical application of universal jurisdiction, proving that even powerful former leaders could be held accountable for international crimes outside their home country, providing a new tool for justice.
Quotes
"The principle is that if you commit the worst crimes, if a war criminal comes into the United States, actually the US has a law that says the US has jurisdiction to prosecute that person."
"When Donald Trump invaded Iran, he committed the crime of aggression."
"An order to give no quarter is a war crime."
"A whole civilization will die tonight was one quote. Well, that's that's that even implicates the genocide convention."
"You're just going to have to look at one big glow coming out of Iran. I mean that's that's grotes genocide."
"Donald Trump unfortunately is committing crimes faster than we can even catalog them."
"The sanctioning of judges of the international criminal court. I would say is international obstruction of justice."
"I don't think you're going to see him visiting his golf courses around the world after this."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
Patrick Henningsen: Hezbollah JUST Fired Back at Israel - Iran Vows to “Crush” All Attacks
"Patrick Henningsen argues that the US and Israel initiated an illegal war against Iran, driven by Trump's incompetence and Israeli influence, leading to an inevitable escalation with severe global economic repercussions."
Col. Jacques Baud: What a US Ground Invasion of Iran Would REALLY Look Like
"Colonel Jacques Baud dissects the strategic futility of a US ground invasion of Iran, arguing that current troop levels are insufficient and such an action would backfire, exposing US allies and potentially leading to Iran's nuclearization."
Palestinian Evangelical Analyst REACTS To U.S-Israeli War In Iran!
"The Young Turks dissect the US-Israeli war in Iran, alleging it's driven by Israeli expansionist goals, fueled by US political and media subservience, and resulting in devastating civilian casualties and economic fallout, while a Palestinian Christian analyst details the brutal realities of Israeli occupation and humiliation."
Col. Jacques Baud: The World Is Entering a Lawless Era
"Colonel Jacques Baud details his personal experience with arbitrary EU sanctions and argues that the world has shifted from a law-based international order to a dangerous, rules-based system dictated by powerful actors, exemplified by US actions in Venezuela and the EU's 'teenager decision-making'."